DUNLAP, Calif. — A woman who was volunteering at a big cat sanctuary in California when she was attacked and killed by a lion was from Mountlake Terrace.
Hanson’s father, Paul Hanson, said ever since she was a small girl, she was obsessed with cats, lions and tigers, and Wednesday died when she was attacked by one of the lions she worked with.
Dianna Hanson died from her injuries.
Dianna also volunteered at Seattle's Snow Leopard Trust in Seattle. On Friday, the organization issued the following statement: "We are shocked and saddened about the death of our former volunteer Dianna Hanson yesterday in an accident at a California wildlife park, where she had been working as an intern. In 2011 and 2012, Dianna worked with the Snow Leopard Trust at our Seattle office as a volunteer. She did outstanding work for us; helping with events, product sales and marketing mainly. We will greatly miss her passion, enthusiasm and radiant personality. Our thoughts are with her family."
Another worker called deputies, who shot Couscous.